Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Vertigo’ is a psychological mystery masterpiece. ‘Vertigo’ is a hypnotic and intense thriller that gradually becomes more and more intoxicating as the film progresses – it is like fermenting fine wine with haunting undertones. Hitchcock expertly uses interesting characters, foreshadowing elements, visual details, and deliberate pacing to create a classic. This film was released in 1958 but it continues to fascinate viewers today – it is a beating heart that grew over the years but with Hitchcock’s original and haunting vision still intact.
The storyline is as follows: a retired police detective with an incapacitating fear of heights, Scottie, is hired to shadow a beautiful woman, Madeline, whose husband suspects her of being very mentally unstable. Scottie soon becomes obsessive about Madeline–but the situation quickly spirals out of control, and his love turns to tragedy and madness. Vertigo unfolds slowly, drawing the viewer into the relationship between Scottie and Madeline at the same pace as the characters experience it. The tension does not let up, and the audience is engulfed in it. It’s the kind of movie that requires attentiveness as almost every moment is filled with significant detail. Moreover, Hitchcock grants the audience a number of visual motifs (i.e. spirals) to reinforce the nature of the story.
Jimmy Stewart is simply outstanding and he enables the viewer to completely sympathize with him while also cringing at many of his character’s actions. Kim Novak is completely convincing in a demanding dual role, and the film wouldn’t have been as powerful without her phenomenal performance.
As with other Hitchcock films, the cinematography is outstanding, especially the famous ‘vertigo’ scenes on the bell tower stairs). The vertigo effects using the zoom-in dolly technique are particularly well done. Vertigo is beautifully presented with gorgeous use of color, specifically, the rich reds and greens fill the screen with Technicolor brilliance. This visual splendor is accompanied by a beautiful and mysterious symphonic score by the incomparable Bernard Hermann. All of this combines together to help create the haunting tone.
This film is ranked number 61 on AFI: 100 Greatest American Movies. I rated it a 10/10. I think it is one of the best suspense thrillers ever made. It is a brilliant motion picture that captures the essence of cinema. As, October (or Hitchcocktober) approaches, you might want to check out your local theaters to see if this film will be showing. For those of you in NY, Angelika will be showing Vertigo on Oct 18 and several other Hitchcock films. Check here for more info: https://www.angelikafilmcenter.com/villageeast/showtimes-and-tickets/special-screen/hitchcocktober/coming-soon
